Bypass plan presented
by Kelly Feser Eells

Tempers flared and emotions ran high, but, in the end, Oak View resident Lanie Springer's peacekeeping skills were acknowledged with an impromptu round of applause.
The Highway 33 Improvement Committee chair led one of the committee's most-attended meetings on record Wednesday night, when some 75 people squeezed into the Casitas Springs Community Center to get the results of Caltrans' and Ventura County Transportation Commission's recently-completed studies of the proposed Casitas Springs bypass.
Hours before it began, Association to Bypass Casitas co-founder Darlene Durfee predicted the meeting would be "hot and heavy," and, at times, it was.
Still, however dissatisfied some people were with the information presented, and however disappointed others were to learn it would be 10 years before any actual highway reconstruction could start, they kept their tempers in check throughout both Caltrans Project Studies coordinator Mel Hodges' and VCTC Deputy Director Kerry Forsythe's presentations.
As the audience reassembled in the building's (cooler and larger) anteroom for a question-and-answer period, Springer introduced the VIPs in attendance, including Sup. Steve Bennett and several top-ranking VCTC and Caltrans staff. Longtime local highway safety advocate Ginnette Waterman posed the first question, asking the two-man panel to explain what VCTC was mandated to do for level "F" highways, as the segment of Highway 33 under current study had been ranked, and "How does this project fit into the Governor's traffic congestion plan?"
Bennett joked, "and in 25 words or less, please."
Forsythe said that, while his agency had initially been formed to oversee new projects, "we do go out and take a look at these highways," to determine whether they warrant further study under the Regional Transportation Improvement Program - which, as Forsythe's video presentation had earlier shown, is a primary source of funding for approved projects. (All available STIP funding has been allocated through 2007.)
With respect to Gov. Davis' Traffic Congestion Plan, Hodges noted that "its intent was to jump start projects already officially in progress." (Though the STIP is closed to proposals until Aug., 2003, VCTC expects it will submit the bypass project for consideration by April, 2004.)
Casitas Springs resident Joseph Stanton wondered why each of the three viable alternatives described in Caltrans' "Fact Sheet for Widening and Realigning Ven-33" were so costly. "We're not talking major constructural things here," he said, referring to recommendations that either a two or four-lane bypass be constructed at a projected cost of $100 million to $135 million, respectively, or that the existing route be widened at an estimated cost of $100 million. "How can you compare this project to (much more complex) ones like the Santa Clara Bridge, unless it's just to discourage us folks here from ever getting a bypass. It sounds like a lot of, pardon my French, bull."
Hodges assured Stanton that $100 million was, indeed, "realistic," pointing to such expenses as for hillside excavation, utilities relocation, and soils reports.
Diana Burns' primary concern was how the project would affect residents of the Arroyo Mobile Home Park, asking several times throughout the proceedings what, exactly, Caltrans' plans were for relocating displaced homeowners, although Hodges explained at the outset that "Those were details that hadn't even come into consideration at this phase of the project." After repeated requests for Caltrans' policy on the matter - initiated in part by resident Carroll Dean Williams - Hodges said that, "If and when a project comes to that point, Caltrans negotiates fair market value and provides relocation assistance."
Springer reminded the audience to ask questions specific to the recently-completed study, prompting Burns to shout, "Well, whoever I have to sue, whoever sent me this letter telling me my property's been devalued, I'm suing. Our homes may be mobile homes, but they're our homes and we have a voice. Now I'm getting a letter about devaluation just because I come to these meetings (and speak out), and I get this, 'Oh, it's her again'" response.
"We're getting off the subject," Springer said, adding that, whatever personal reservations people had about the project "weren't this group's fault."
Sandy Lamont said that, as a 41-year resident, she was dismayed to see the traffic situation continue to deteriorate. "I'm a school bus driver," she said, "and other drivers I know call out for assistance just to get out and off (of) Nye Road." As Lamont proceeded to describe a number of accidents occurring over the years, Springer said, "Please, what's the question? These gentlemen are here to answer our questions. We're not here tonight to philosophize."
Visibly angered, Lamont said, "Excuse me. I want my voice heard by these gentlemen," explaining that declaring her support for the project to those with the most influence over it was necessary to its continued progress. Hodges and Forsythe said they appreciated both hers and the other resident's comments, and encouraged them to continue making their feelings known "when the project goes to the environmental study and public hearings" phase.
As Springer started to call on another member of the audience to speak, Williams, whose hand was also raised, shouted, "Order, order. There's a question here."
Springer cautioned, "Excuse me, Mr. Williams, but I don't need that right now."
"Well, you're ignoring me and I don't appreciate the way you're conducting this meeting," Williams said. "And I don't appreciate your attitude."
Sighing, Springer said, "OK. You're recognized now, Mr. Williams."
Williams stood and loudly demanded to know whether "This was a political project." Pointing in Bennett's direction, he said, "we have a supervisor here; tell us right now. Why are we concerned with funding (issues)? If there is no project, for certain, why is funding being discussed? Can you discuss the politics of this?"
After he sat back down, Oak View resident Dan McLaren broke the silence by telling the panel, "Our concern isn't money. We've lost friends on this road. We don't want a Band-Aid solution, and we don't care about cost. We just want a good public highway...whatever the price."

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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